A Handwritten Letter

March 2023

I’ve been putting off writing to you all because the rarest of things has happened: I haven’t had much to say.

Life is full, so darn full that the space and breath of air needed to put down words- something I enjoy immensely- has been lacking. In some ways this is good: I’m deep into living, problem solving, going places, engaged in the most important tasks of the day. On the other hand, time for reflection is vital for my soul.

Just now, as I puttered around the studio avoiding writing this, our friendly mailman stopped in. Usually he leaves nothing but junk mail, bogus offers for loans and credit cards, better deals on internet services.

Today was different. On our little front bench sat a hand-written envelope, letter sized. I walked over, expecting to have been duped by Comcast, but then noticed the return address. I quickly opened it, started reading, and immediately started crying.

You see, it was a bonafide, old-school thank you note from one of our early potters here at Create. Like many, she started making the basic functional work and then her practice quickly grew into sculptural work and she explored the medium. She became a fixture at Create in those early days.

Now, clay is her life. She’s moved away, worked for production potters and has accepted her first Artist-in-Residency role. Truly amazing.

I probably didn’t need to be thanked today, running this studio for ya’ll is a great life and is thanks enough. Making satisfying work, exploring clay, is plenty of reward for the work I get to do.

But damn, getting a hand-written card in this day and age? It’s so intimate, so genuine, and so truly heartwarming. I suspect we all need kind words via a medium that has come to be so thoughtful in its analog requirements.

Today, may someone’s kind words move you to tears of joy and happiness and relief; all-the-things that keep us moving forward on these meandering pathways of life.